South Carolina Woman Sentenced For Bank Robbery Spree In Virginia

NORFOLK, Va. – Nicole Racquel Drakeford, 44, of Fountain Island, S.C., was sentenced today to 147 months in prison, followed by a term of supervised release, for armed bank robbery and using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Dana J. Boente, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia and Royce E. Curtin, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior United States District Judge Henry Coke Morgan, Jr.

Drakefordpleaded guilty on January 27, 2014.  According to the statement of facts that were filed with her plea agreement, Drakeford took responsibility for committing a series of bank robberies across Virginia.  Drakeford admitted that she robbed the Bank of America in Fairfax County, Virginia on July 15, 2013 and walked away with $5598.00.  She admitted that on July 20, 2013, she robbed the United Bank in Fairfax County and took $1321.00.  She also admitted that on July 31, 2013 she robbed a Chartway Federal Credit Union (FCU) in Chesapeake, Virginia with a gun and took approximately $302.00.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Norfolk Field Office and the Chesapeake Police Department.   Managing Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin L. Hatch prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.